Thursday evening was a good time for the opening ceremony of the Karen Baptist Church USA (KBC, USA) Youth Conference. The sun was shining and the temperature outside was enjoyable.

Despite the nice weather, the real action was taking place inside, where crowds of young Karen refugees could be found walking the halls and filling the sanctuary of Temple Baptist Church in New Bern.

Guests at the opening ceremony included various dignitaries from Burma (also known as Myanmar), to include pastors, the president and minister of Karen Baptist Convention. From New Bern was Mayor Pro Tem Sabrina Bengel.

Bengel said, “My grandparents emigrated from Italy over 100 years ago. I have a soft place in my heart for people looking for a better life. New Bern is a special place because they have embraced the Karen people. The Karen people have been able to come here to find homes, get jobs and an education.”

The KBC, USA Youth Conference is an annual event held in a different location each year. This year the theme “Be the Light to the Nations” is honoring the 200th anniversary of American Baptist Missionary, Adoniram Judson’s arrival in Burma on July 13, 1813.

Throughout the four days, youth attended workshops, praise and worship and Bible study. Traditional Burmese meals were served. Soccer and volleyball games were held at Lawson Creek Park on Friday.

Pastor Lerhtoo expects approximately 600 people to attend the four day event centered on faith, the Karen culture and its youth.

Lerhtoo immigrated to the D.C. area from Burma in 2001 as a missionary and has served as pastor to the Burmese congregation. Lerhtoo is also the secretary for the KBC, USA, which was chartered in 2009. KBC, USA consists of seven regions and more than 80 churches.

In charge of the convention, Lerhtoo knows there is a difference between Karen refugee youth and American youth.

In Karen culture, youth are very respectful of the elderly, value marriage in that there should only be one husband and one wife for a lifetime, and socialization is very much alive, he said. Within the Karen culture, neighbors can talk, visit and eat without an appointment, even if they do not know each other well.

Ler Wah arrived in New Bern in June in preparation for the youth conference. “I’ve gone fishing and only needed a 10 day fishing license,” he added with a smile.

“This is a great opportunity to meet Karen people that have settled in New Bern. I feel God is sending them to be the Karen people here,” said Ler Wah.

Ler Wah, president of Karen Baptist Convention, Burma and Principal of Yengoon Karen Baptist Bible School, explained the conference is to support the Karen youth. Bringing them together will help them adapt to western culture while maintaining their own culture.

Page 2 of 3 - Saw Samson, full-time minister for Karen Baptist Convention and director of the Ministry Department, Burma is also in attendance for this weekend's events.

Samson delivered a sermon on Friday focusing on the theme of the conference.

According to Samson, most youth are not aware of the situation in Burma, just that their mother or father are from "the inside." Due to the political conflict in the country, most Karen people do not live directly in Burma. Instead they live on the border of Burma and Thailand.

Samson said, "Youth are not stable in their faith or beliefs. We need to encourage them to live as good Christians. They must support the U.S. with a good attitude but integrate the Karen culture."

Looking around the sanctuary, it became apparent the Karen youth have established some of the fashion, hair styles and technological preferences found in the U.S. among American youth. Some boys wore baggy jeans or shorts, high-top sneakers, Mohawks in their hair and headphones around their necks.

“They want to be like their peers but also never give up their culture,” said Cookie Davenport, board member of the Karen Baptist Church of New Bern and member of Temple Baptist Church.

Davenport has been involved in assisting the Karen refugees with settlement. Support provided by Davenport ranges in the level of complexity, such as finding a doctor to planning a funeral.

“The Karen people are so kind. They expect nothing and appreciate anything,” Davenport said.

Karen refugees who immigrate to the U.S. leave their homeland in search of a better life. Kaw Moo, a 25-year-old man born in Thailand, is now a resident in New Bern and a prime example of the improvement Karen refugees can see in their lifestyle after relocating to the U.S.

Kaw Moo immigrated to the U.S. in May 2008, spending one and half years in Buffalo, N.Y. then moving to New Bern, where he has been for the past three and a half years. “This is the best place for me to stay. The weather is like where I was born,” Kaw Moo said.

Upon arrival to New Bern, Davenport helped Kaw Moo find a job building homes for a local construction company. A series of favorable changes have occurred for Kaw Moo since his relocation to this historic Southern town. He got married, purchased a home and began attending Craven Community College.

He is working toward an Associate in Arts in criminal justice (pre-major). According to Kaw Moo, the New Bern Police Department will sponsor him for the Basic Law Enforcement Training program when he is ready. Kaw Moo said he will be ready as soon as he is granted citizenship, which he expects to take place this year and should be enrolled in the 2014 program.

Page 3 of 3 - His parents, born in Burma, had to flee the country with the family in tow. Their destination: The Burma/Thailand border where Kam Moo and his family would live in a camp for 13 years, primarily supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. With no money and no freedom to leave the camp, Kaw Moo and his family would only have access to the food provided by the UNHCR. If anyone should dare leave the fenced in, 3 mile long and 1 mile wide camp, they would be arrested by Thailand police and in some cases tortured.

When Kaw Moo reflects on the life he used to live he recognizes the extreme differences. “In the United States I have freedom and tremendous opportunity to get an education for a better future. The U.S. is a good place for all human beings. In Burma, it is the complete opposite. In the camp I didn’t know about college or universities, only the Karen Baptist Bible School,” Kaw Moo said.

“The U.S. provides good opportunities for any refugee not just the Karen people,” Kaw Moo said.

Sunday is the last day of the conference. Lunch will be served at Temple Baptist Church at noon. Closing ceremony will be held from 1-2:30 p.m.

Megan Beyer can be reached at 252-635-5671 or megan.beyer@newbernsj.com.